Resilient support for manhole covers



8, 1935. w. F. BORN ET AL 1,987,502

RESILIENT 'SUPPORT FOR MANHOLE COVERS Filed Dec. 3, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 III/I4 Fig.3

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I ATTORNEY Jan. 8, 1935. w. F. BORN ET AL' RESILIEN'I SUPPORT FOR MANHOLE COVERS Filed Dec. 3, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 am a M ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 8, 1935 r 1 502; r a hesmsnr SUPPORT roe MANHOLE "warren; B'tm, Lakewood, are. "moan, 1 West Steel fasting Company; Cleveland, Ohio, a'ccrpora- ,Cleveland. Ohio, assignors to the Application tame a, 1932 -Serial-No. 645,558

solicits. (ores-s4);

OFFic-E v Our invention relates to a resilientsuppo'rtor cushioning device for interposition between and coacting with manhole covers or the like and their supporting frames.

It is well known in practice that manhole covers, catch basin gratings, or other highway'or street castings or covers which are removable and which close manholes and like openings, are subjected to heavy traflic; Such traiiic causes wear between the cover or grating and the frame, ring or like support therefor, and results in loosenes's and in noise. When such covers are loose the traflic subjects them to greater stresses than when firmly held in place. It is theprimary object of this invention to providea means for preventing such wear and stock and which shall thereby prevent danger of breakagecf the covers, resulting noise, etc. 1 I 1 A more specific object of the invention is to provide a resilient device'whichis adaptedto be attached to the manhole cover or grating, preferably to be removed therewith, or which may be a plied to worn covers, thereby raising them-again to the originallevel and filling the space between the cover and frame, and greatly adding'tothe life of such used or worn covers or gratings" More specific, objectsjare the provision of a simple, effective means for'this purpose which shall constitute molded resilient elements adapted for attachment to covers or gratings to form resilient seats therefor and to' closely fitbetween the ring and grating, and which means will have a definite shape or body of resilient material H Fig. 6;" shocks and permanently retain its shape or adapted to withstand repeated compressible form. v

We have found that a considerable portion of the weight of the cover orJgrating may be omitted by simple redesigning of the rigs and flanges safety factors may still be maintained. when the absence or freedom from shock, rockingor shifting, is attained. Another important object, therethe cover and frame holds them 'in assembled relation with an equal orgreater effect-than. in

.material. :comprising a channel shape body having uptne case trn avierecv rswithout the'cushioning means g Y Other specific objects are the provisionof such means which will be simple'efiective, durable,

cheaply manufactured, easily applied; and'preferably re ovable with the cover or supporting frame and, 'rurther ,--which will require minimum changein' the co'vers or gratings from the present standard {practice of constructing the same.

More specific o'bieots are to so construct such resilient cover "seating devices that they may be fitted to the perimeter-s of covers or names varying in external curvature fronn'smah c rcular covers to fiat-sided square or oblong covers or gratings)"; Y I In the forms of our invention shown in the attached drawings, YT *Fig. 1 ifsa' fra inentarysectional view of one form that our-invention may take. Fig.1 is'also a fragmentary sectional view of that shown in i along the 1ines2- 2. Fig; 3, is a fragmentary plan view of that shown iii Figs, ,I and 2 with a portion of the cover cut away to show a resilient su port in position.

- Fig. sisa full plan view on a more reduced sc le are circular manhole cover pcsitionsnowing relative positions of the resilient supports.

Fig. is a View; similar to Fig. 4 showing "the resilient supports in'c'ohnection with a square or rectangular cover. Fig. 6 is afragmentary sectional View of another form' 'of our invention.

Fig. 1 '7 is a partial plan" view of the view in .Fig. 8 is a partialelevation of the 'view n Fig. '1. Fig.9 is still another former our invention; Fig. '10 is yet another-form of our invention.

'- Fig. 11 is a plan view of tne'forni shown in his; 10. l i Y Y of the cover or grating and that'the necessary Fig. 12 is a partial sectional view of another form." I

Fig. 13 is a partial elevation of the parts H shown in Fig. 12;310ng'th1in s fore, s t nimizing of the shocks'due to 'rela- Referring h0W'tO1 "igS ."1, 2, and 3, there is showna supporting'frame ori ring lflembedded in a concrete foundation 12 and having a.- supporting flangem upon which normally rests a coacting and-downwardly extending flange 16 of the cover 18. Interposedbetween the cover flange 16 and the supporting ringior frame '10 is :shown a resilient and 'fiexible support. 20,- of rubber or. like The resi1ient'support20is shown as wardlyextending and embracingmeinbers 22and 24, the member 22 extending upwardly a greater upwardly extending members 22 and 24 are the,

gripping lugs 30, which; are shown, as finFig. 2, rising at an angle from the connecting member 26 and having a U-shaped recess 32 therebetween.

In applying the resilient support to the downthe cpver flange 46 may be either all entirely .smooth or irregular as heretofore indicated, de-

wardly extending flange 16 of theco ver l8 the dovetail forming and gripping lugs are urged-= toward each other, as viewed in Fig. 2, thenpushed into the dovetail recess 34'of the. flange 16 and thereafter permitted to spring outwardly to. grip or hold to the sides of the dovetail recess 34. The

Where the cover .18 is large and has consider able weight, in order to readily permit removal of the cover, the upwardly extending member 22 of the cushioning unit 20 may have an irregular surface as shown at 36 in Fig. 3,. so as to minimize the frictional engagement between it and the adjacent surface of the ringer frame 10. Where a light cover is used, it is oftendesirable to have this frictional engagement high,in-such case the irregular surface, as indicated at 36, may be dispensed with, or if not entirely dispensedwith may be reduced to where the frictional engagement is sufficiently high to retain the cover in its closed position. 1 A 'Any desirablenumber of the resilient Lor cushioning supports may be used with a given cover. For example, in Figs; 4 and 5, we have shown a number of supports spaced equidistantly around the perimeter of a roundcover and a rectangular cover. -,Any number of supports may; be used, depending upon the particular cover towhich they are applied, It will generally be found-unnecessary to use supports for the full perimeter of the cover and it -i s,- of course, more economical to use as small a number as are effective. The nature of the supports are such that a relatively small number afford adequate support for most types of coversand at the same time have sunlcient body to permanently withstandand, absorb the continual shock to which they are subjected. It will also be obvious that'the use of a';large number of supports without, such irregular edges as are shown at 36 in Fig. 3 will increase the frictionalengagement betweenthe cover and supporting frame, thereby permitting a much lighter cover to be used and which will hold such a light cover snugly in its closed position withjlittle or no tendency for the cover to catapult from its seated position.

Referring now to Fig. 6, we have shown another form that our invention may take, wherein a resilient or'flexible body 40 has molded therein a metallic securing member'42 adapted tobe folded over the supporting frame 44 so as to hold the resilient body 40 in the position shown, and to form a seat forthe flange 46 of the cover 48. The metallic securing'member 42 may be of either soft, easily bendable" material, such that it may be readily 'bent'to conform'to the configuration of the supporting frame 44, or it may be of spring material already formed supporting frame 44.; .1,

Figs. 7 and 8 show plan and elevation views respectively of this form of our invention, and while they show the inclusion of two metallic securing members, it will be understood that any desirable number of these may be used, or that instead of usingflat strips as indicated, wires or other similar elements may be used --It will also b e understood that the surface of the resilient body 40 coacting with the adjacent surface 50 of pending upon the desired frictional engagement 'therebetween.

Fig; 9 is'shownyet another modification that our invention ma take, in which the resilient seat 52, which is'of an L shape section, has projecting downwardly from the horizontal element 54, proj ecting lugs 56 having a recess 58 therebetween, and which lugs are adapted to be urged toward each other in order to permit entryinto the slot 60 past the shoulderfl62 of the supporting ring or flange 54. The lugs 56 are. thereafter permitted to return to their normal position, thereby forming-a dovetail connection with the slot 60 and holding the resilient seat 52 securely to theframe or ring 64 andproviding a cushion or resilient seat for the cover in its closed position.

In Fig. 10 is, shown another form of our invention. The cover flange 68 has apertures, indicated at '72, therein adapted to receive .theco'ne shaped projection 74 of ,theresilient'seat 66, the cone shaped lugs '74 having a. hollow center'as indicated'at 76, by virtue of which the lug may be contracted to permit entry into. theaperture .72 and thereafter be released to expand to firmly secure the seat 66 to the cover flange.68.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the seat shown inFig. 10, in which is indicated anirregular surface '76,

which as heretofore indicated, may-be either used V [or dispensed with as desired. j In Figs'Q-12 and 13- is .shoyvn'yetanother form of. our invention which is similar, to that shown in Figs, 10 and 11, but withthe exception that taining pin 86 which acts to hold'the resilient seat 77 in assembled relation with the cover flange 82. It will be obviousthat other forms of secur- "ing means may be readily. adapted to this form .of our inventionand that it isnot considered necessary to indicate all of such means.

, From the forms of the invention which we hav illustrated it will ,be seen that'we have provided a resilient and cushioning seat or'support for interposition between manhole covers orgratings i and their-coacting supporting frame, and that these cushions or seats are effective in reducing the wear and shock to which such manhole covers or gratings are normally subjected. It will further be apparent that such cushioning devices as we have indicated maybe readily applied to new or old manhole cover constructions, and that such devices may be readily removed'where so required; It will also be apparent that many modifications of our invention may be made and that such modifications are within the spirit and scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. toreadily-snap on the Further, our invention is characterized by ,theflresilient seat '17 has a projecting lug 78, a '45 :a resilient seat; or support having definite body form which is readily attachable to manhole covers or their coacting frame supports, and

which may be subjected to continual'and repeated shocks and after each retain its form permanently and show little wear as a result thereof. The useful life of such devices is indefinitely long because of this more or less permanent characteristic, as contrasted with the short life of such filler elements as wood blocks, asphalt, tar or other filling compounds as are sometimes used. As used hereinafter in the claims such descriptive words as resilient support, cushioning suppo etc., refer to such a support having the characteristic of relative permanency of body or shape as heretofore described.

We claim:

1. In a manhole construction the combination with a manhole cover and a supporting frame for supporting the cover over a manhole, said cover having recesses in-spaced relation in its perimeter, of a resilient support adapted to provide a cushioning body between the upright and under edges of the cover and the supporting edge of the frame, said support being provided with lugs adapted to be pressedinto one of said recesses whereby the support holds to the cover.

2. As an article of manufacture, a resilient cushioning element for use in a manhole construction comprising a cover element and aframe element and serving to support the cover from the frame and to space the cover from the frame, the element comprising a body of resilient material adapted to overlie a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the cover and to project inwardly beneath the edge of the cover and an integral lug element having outwardly sloping surfaces adapted to engage a dovetail recess formed in one of the elements of the manhole construction to secure the cushioning element thereto.

3'. In cushioning means for a manhole device of the type comprising a frame element and a cover element adapted to be supported on a supporting flange on said frame element, the frame element having a portion adjacent the periphery of the cover element and extending upwardly above the supporting flange, the cushioning means comprising a member constructed of resiliently compressible material and having a portion adapted to fit between the cover element and the supporting flange on said frame element and a portion adapted to fit between the periphery of the cover element and the portion of the frame element extending upwardly above the supporting flange.

4. In cushioning means for a manhole device of the type comprising a frame element and a cover element adapted to be supported on a supporting flange on said frame element, the frame element having a portion adjacent the periphery of the cover element and extending upwardly above the supporting flange, the cover element and the frame element having complementary coacting surfaces, one of said elements having recesses therein adjacent said complementary coacting surfaces, the cushioning means comprising a plurality of members each constructedof resilient compressible material and having a portion adapted to fit between the cover element and the supporting flange on the frame element, a portion adapted to fit between the periphery of the cover element and the portion of the frame element extending above the supporting flange thereon, and a lug adapted to extend into the recess to secure said Fcushioning member in position. I

-5. .In'nushioning' means for a manhole device of; thestype'zcomprising a'frame element and a 'coverwelement vadaptedto be supported on a supporting flangeton said frame element, the frame element having. a portion adjacent the periphery of the cover element and extending upwardly above the supporting flange, the cover element having a plurality of apertures therein extending radially inwardly from the periphery thereof, the cushioning means comprising a plurality of members each constructed of resilient compressible material and each having a portion adapted to fit between the cover element and the supporting flange on the frame element and a portion adapted to fit between the periphery of the cover element and the portion of the frame element extending above the supporting flange thereon, and a lug adapted to extend into an aperture in said cover element to secure said cushioning member in position.

6. In cushioning means for a manhole device of the type comprising a frame element and a cover element adapted to be supported on a supporting flange on said frame element, the frame element having a portion adjacent the periphery of the cover element and extending up- Wardly above the supporting flange, the cover element having aplurality of apertures therein extending radially inwardly from the periphery thereof, the cushioning means comprising a plurality of members each constructed of resilient compressible material and each having a portion adapted to flt between the cover element and the supporting flange on the frame element and a portion adapted to fit between the periphery of the cover element and the portion of the frame element extending above the supporting flange thereon, and a lug adapted to extend into an aperture in said cover element to secure said cushioning member in position, the lugs beingv provided with enlarged heads adapted to be contracted in size to permit passing said lugs through the apertures and to thereafter expand to secure said cushioning members to the cover element.

'7. In cushioningmeans for a manhole device of the type comprising a frame element and a cover element adapted to be supported on a supporting flange on said frame element, the frame element having a portion adjacentthe peripheryof the cover element and extending upwardly above the supporting flange, the cushioning means comprising a plurality of cushioning members located at spaced intervals around the periphery of the cover element, each of said members being constructed of resiliently compressible material and having a portion adapted to fit between the cover and the supporting flange on said frame elements, and a portion adapted to fit between the periphery of the cover element and a portion of the frame element extending upwardly above the supporting flange.

8. In cushioning means for a manhole device of the type comprising a frame element and a cover element adapted to be supported on a supporting flange on said frame element, the frame element having a portion adjacent the peripheryof the cover element and extending upwardly above the supporting flange, the cushioning means comprising a member constructed of resiliently compressible material and having a portion adapted to fit between the cover element and the supporting flange on said frame element and a-porti'on adapted to fit between the periphery over the top of the portion of the frame element of the cover element and the portion of the extending upwardly above said supporting flange frame element extending upwardly above the to secure the cushioning member in position on supporting flange, said cushioning member havsaid frame element. I ing a metallic element imbedded therein and WILLIAM F. BORN. 5 adapted to be bent around the inner margin of OTTO H. JOBSKI.

the supporting flange on the frame element and 

